Hair-removal device using pulsed electromagnetic radiation

Abstract

The hair-removal device comprises a housing, a flashlamp arranged inside the housing, the housing having an opening through which electromagnetic energy originating from the flashlamp can be transmitted towards a skin surface. The housing comprises: a cavity adjacent to the flashlamp; at least one aeration orifice; and at least one mobile component in the housing, which can be displaced between a first so-called aeration position, in which said cavity communicates with said aeration orifice and a second so-called closed position, for which said cavity is closed in order to limit the light escaping from the opening. Said mobile component can be formed by a housing portion that can close the cavity except for the opening, by moving towards a complementary housing portion.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device intended for hair removal, comprising a housing, a flashlamp arranged inside the housing, the housing having an opening through which electromagnetic energy originating from the flashlamp can be transmitted towards a skin surface, wherein the housing comprises:
 a cavity adjacent to the flashlamp; 
 at least one aeration orifice; and 
 at least one mobile component, which can be moved between a first aeration position, in which said cavity communicates with said aeration orifice and a second closed position, for which said cavity is closed in order to limit the electromagnetic energy escaping from the said opening of the housing; 
 
       wherein the device comprises inside the housing:
 a coupler configured to direct the electromagnetic energy originating from the flashlamp onto the skin surface 
 a filter inserted between the flashlamp and the coupler; 
 a first fixing arrangement for fixing the filter in the housing; and 
 a second fixing arrangement for fixing the flashlamp in the housing; 
 
       said mobile component displacing at least one of the first and second fixing arrangements, the flashlamp being arranged opposite and at a distance from the filter for said aeration position. 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , in which the housing has:
 a first housing portion that comprises said opening; and 
 a second housing portion allowing a displacement in translation between the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the flashlamp being integral with the second housing portion, the mobile component being formed by one of said first and second housing portions. 
 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 2 , in which the first housing portion is a head having a free end and the second housing portion forms a handle which can be grasped by a hand, said mobile component configured to move the flashlamp towards said free end of the head when the head is supported on a surface outside the device. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein movement of said mobile component from said aeration position to said closed position causes the flashlamp and the filter to be moved closer together. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 1 , in which the first fixing arrangement has a degree of freedom in translation between the coupler and the flashlamp, the coupler having a periphery, the first fixing arrangement being held at a distance from the coupler by at least one elastic stress component placed on said periphery of the coupler. 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 1 , in which the first fixing arrangement comprises a tubular-shaped support that comprises, elastic clipping tabs retaining said filter between the elastic clipping tabs, the housing comprising a tubular portion surrounding the support and configured to guide the support. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 1 , in which the second fixing arrangement forms with the flashlamp an expendable unit that can be removed from the housing and comprises a box for accommodating the flashlamp, said box having:
 an end surface having a window to allow the electromagnetic energy from the flashlamp to escape, the window having a periphery; 
 first fixing elements defining ends opposite said end surface; 
 second fixing elements arranged on the periphery of the window; 
 the first fixing elements being configured to engage with at least one piece elongated in a first direction, whilst the second fixing elements are configured to engage with at least one component elongated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. 
 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 7 , in which the inside of the housing has a surface for guiding a flow of air parallel to the filter and from which said component elongated in a second direction extends in a general direction perpendicular to the filter. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 7 , in which said component elongated in a second direction has a shoulder and ends in an end rod portion, the box comprising at least one recess with a base and a spring provided in the recess, the recess configured to receive at least part of said component elongated in a second direction, the spring having a first end supported on the base and a second end supported on the shoulder of said component elongated in a second direction, said spring being compressed for said closed position in which the flashlamp and the filter are moved close together. 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 9 , in which the second fixing arrangement comprises:
 the box configured to accommodate the flashlamp, said box having metal power conducting elements extending opposite from the coupler, 
 
       wherein the housing comprises a first housing portion that comprises said opening and a second housing portion allowing a displacement in translation between the first housing portion and the second housing portion. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 10 , in which the window allows electromagnetic energy from the flashlamp to escape in a determined orientation. 
     
     
       12. The device according to  claim 7 , in which the first fixing elements comprise metal power conducting elements. 
     
     
       13. The device according to  claim 1 , comprising a sensor configured to detect the closed position and capable of delivering a piece of information representative of occupation by said mobile component of said closed position, and a control device configured to receive said at least one piece of information from the sensor. 
     
     
       14. An expendable unit for the device according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a flashlamp; 
 a box for accommodating the flashlamp, having an end surface with a window to allow the electromagnetic energy from the flashlamp to escape, the window having a periphery; 
 on a side of the end surface and on the periphery of the window, at least one recess in which a spring is placed, which has an end mobile between a compressed retracted position allowing the cavity of the device to be closed in order to limit electromagnetic energy escaping except towards the opening and an extended position for which the cavity communicates with the aeration orifice of the device; 
 at least one element for fixing the box to the housing, having a stop surface that is oriented in an opposite direction in relation to the thrust direction of the spring. 
 
     
     
       15. A device intended for hair removal, comprising a housing, a flashlamp arranged inside the housing, the housing having an opening through which electromagnetic energy originating from the flashlamp can be transmitted towards a skin surface, wherein the housing comprises:
 a cavity adjacent to the flashlamp; 
 at least one aeration orifice; and 
 at least one mobile component, which can be moved between a first aeration position, in which said cavity communicates with said aeration orifice and a second closed position, for which said cavity is closed in order to limit the electromagnetic energy escaping from the said opening of the housing; 
 
       and wherein the device further comprises:
 a sensor configured to detect the closed position and capable of delivering a piece of information representative of occupation by said mobile component of said closed position, and 
 a control device configured to receive said at least one piece of information from the sensor.